I have plans too--and what's frustrating is that I'll be in class...on George Mason campus...from 7:20 until 10:00 PM.
In a sense, they are. It's just that there's a lot of steps involved in getting to Round 1 of the elimination brackets. Basically, you have to win the top division of your local league. That puts you into a regional qualification process, and you have to win that. That gets you to Round 1.
We're on that track. First step is to win a USSF affiliated league. WISL are no longer affiliated so BBFC Premier are likely going to be going to a new league soon now that I feel we are good enough. Maybe this Fall. Goal is to qualify for the Open Cup...sponsors welcome! Off to the field soon. Vamos Barra!
I went over to Mason and watched about 60 minutes of the game tonight as one of my friends was playing with the Royals for the first time. For awhile it wasn't looking like the lights were going to come on. When I walked away it was 1-1 but it looked like BBFC was lining up for a PK as I drove away. First half - BBFC was much more organized and had more of the possession. Other than a goal scored early by BBFC neither team really threatened. I've never seen BBFC play and I haven't been to a Royals game in about ten years but it looked as though BBFC was familiar with each other on the field. I didn't get that feeling from the Royals. (I just went to their website and it looks like tonight was one of their tryouts. That makes sense because I got the feeling that their roster is usually made up of guys home from college during the summer. There are a bunch of dudes that won't be making it after that tryout.) 2nd half - Possession was more like 50/50 but the Royals had a bunch of chances at goal to start the half and converted one. Obviously I don't know who was missing, if anybody, from BBFC but they looked like they were a pretty good team that is hard to break down. I imagine their defense is alway pretty stingy. It also seems like they would have a hard time scoring. They possess the ball a lot but don't really get a lot of shots on goal or even chances out of that possession. The coach of the Royals needs to get a grip. It was a tryout/scrimmage and he was in mid-season form attacking some ref that he will probably never see again.
Thanks for coming out. I would agree for the most part with your comments. Turns out this was a trial for many of the players out there. I ws told the team they assembled was about 1/3 PDL and former PDL players, 1/3 Super 20 players, and 1/3 highschool and local college players trying out for the squad. This explains why they seemed to play more as individuals and less as a team...and why they were balls-to-the-wall the whole game. The game end 3-2 in favor of the Royals. We came together very well defensively though, believe it or not. We've been working on some things and I think we now know who needs to be where to get it done. This was a new team for us as well...5 of our starters were new players and this was our first well organized game together so coming out on the same page like that is very encouraging. I think we weathered the high pressure very well the first 15 and then settled in and our experience and organization were advantages. Their youth, fitness, and f'ing speed were theirs and they caught us a few times....plus their superb winning goal from about 30 yards out. Weird to say, but that was the most encouraging game I've seen us play. Can't wait for this knee to get better.
